Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund (CCCPDF)

The Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund (CCCPDF) is a tuition assistance program for child care providers to obtain a college education at participating colleges/universities in Maryland. Funding is available for child care providers to earn a college degree in the following areas:

Early Childhood Education

Child Development

Elementary Education

Special Education

The fund does not reimburse participants as the payments are made directly to the college or university. MSDE will notify applicants of whether or not they have received fund approval.

Application Due Dates

Transfer applications (students transferring from a participating 2-year college to a participating 4-year university) due by June 30

First-time applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to applicants who have not yet completed any college courses for credit from an accredited college or university.

CCCPDF

Eligibility Requirements

CCCPDF applicants must meet the following requirements to receive funds (COMAR 13A.14.09):

Participate in the Maryland Child Care Credential Program at Level Two or higher

Work in a licensed child care center or be a registered family child care provider in Maryland and work at least 10 hours per week

Fulfill entrance requirements at the participating college of your choice

Have at least one year of documented experience working with groups of children in an approved setting

Maintain employment in child care in Maryland while participating in the Program

Participate in professional development

Agree to complete the child care service requirement in Maryland for at least 10 hours per week after completion of the degree and/or withdrawal from the fund

Maintain at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA from the point of first entering the Program

How to Apply

Eligible candidates must:

Step 1: Contact the participating college of your choice using the list of Participating Colleges.

Step 2: Once accepted into the college of your choice, meet with the CCCPDF Coordinator at the college in which you were accepted. The Coordinator must review for completion and sign the application checklist before the application is submitted to MSDE. Applications that have not been reviewed by the Coordinator will be returned.

Step 3: Submit a completed CCCPDF application with the required documentation to the Office of Child Care -- Credentialing Branch.

Service Commitment

Fund recipients are required to complete the Service Commitment as stated in COMAR 13A.14.09.08. Upon acceptance of the Fund, the recipient commits continuing employment at least 10 hours per week as a provider in an approved child care facility for a period of time which is the shortest of: